Supplemental gas delivery device for mask assembly

Abstract

A supplemental gas delivery device is described for a mask assembly having at least one supplemental gas port, the at least one supplemental gas port including an aperture in communication with an interior of the mask assembly. The mask assembly may include an aperture communicating with an interior of the mask assembly, and a cannula for communicating with the supplemental gas port. The cannula is positioned to deliver supplemental gas adjacent to the patient's nares and/or mouth, to increase an efficacy of treatment for the patient by more directly applying the flow of supplemental gas to the patient's nares. An optional bridging portion may be included to provide a connection between supplemental gas port and the cannula.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A supplemental gas delivery device for a mask assembly having a frame including a primary as delivery inlet in pneumatic communication with a primary source of pressurized gas to deliver the pressurized gas to a patient's airways and at least one supplemental gas delivery port, the at least one supplemental gas delivery port including an aperture in communication with an interior of the mask assembly to provide a flow of supplemental gas from a secondary source pneumatically separate from the primary source, the supplemental gas delivery device comprising:
 a bridging portion adapted to be insertable into the aperture of each at least one supplemental gas delivery port, the bridging portion including a connection portion to extend out of the aperture into the interior of the mask assembly when the bridging portion is inserted into the aperture; and 
 at least one cannula having a first end and a second end, the first end having an opening and being adapted to communicate with the connection portion of the bridging portion, and the second end dimensioned and configured to be positioned adjacent to or within the patient's nares and/or mouth to direct the flow of the supplemental gas through the bridging portion and the at least one cannula to the patient's nares and/or mouth. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the bridging portion includes a first portion having an outer diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the aperture in the at least one supplemental gas delivery port. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the bridging portion includes a second portion having a diameter greater than the first portion, the second portion having a shoulder for interfacing with the at least one supplemental gas delivery port on the outside of the mask assembly. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the second portion comprises a connector for connecting a supplemental gas delivery tube. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the at least one cannula includes an opening having a diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the bridging portion. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bridging portion hole extending from an opening in a first end of the bridging portion to an opening in a second end of the bridging portion. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection portion of the bridging portion is inserted into the opening in the first end of the at least one cannula. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cannula hole extending from an opening in the first end of the at least one cannula to an opening in the second end of the at least one cannula, wherein the cannula hole has a constant diameter from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cannula hole extending from an opening in the first end of the at least one cannula to an opening in the second end of the at least one cannula, wherein the cannula hole has a variable diameter. 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the cannula hole includes a first portion having a constant diameter, and a second portion having a variable diameter, the first portion having a length approximately equal to a length of the connection portion of the bridging portion. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the second portion of the cannula hole has a diameter greater than the first portion. 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cannula is flexible and malleable so that its shape can be changed from a first configuration to stay in a second configuration. 
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the bridging portion includes a shoulder that abuts against an inner edge of the at least one supplemental gas delivery port on an inside of the mask assembly. 
     
     
       14. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fixing member attached to the bridging portion, wherein the fixing member abuts against an outer edge of the at least one supplemental gas delivery port and limits a distance the bridging portion can be inserted into the aperture in the at least one supplemental gas delivery port. 
     
     
       15. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cannula is formed from a material selected from silicone, thermoplastic elastomer, foam, gel, polypropylene, polycarbonate, or metal. 
     
     
       16. A mask assembly, comprising:
 a frame including a primary gas delivery inlet in pneumatic communication with a primary source of pressurized gas to deliver the pressurized gas to a patient's airways and at least one supplemental gas port, the at least one supplemental gas port including an aperture in communication with an interior of the mask assembly to provide a flow of supplemental gas from a secondary source pneumatically separate from the primary source; 
 a bridging portion extending into the at least one supplemental gas port, the bridging portion including a connection portion extending out of the aperture in the supplemental gas port and into the interior of the mask assembly; and 
 a cannula having a first end and a second end, the first end having an opening and being connected to the connection portion of the bridging portion, and the second end dimensioned and configured to be positioned adjacent to or within a nasal area and/or mouth area of a patient in use, wherein supplemental gas is deliverable through the bridging portion and through the cannula to the patient's nasal area and/or mouth area. 
 
     
     
       17. The mask assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the bridging portion includes a first portion having an outer diameter substantially equal to a diameter of an aperture in the at least one supplemental gas port. 
     
     
       18. The mask assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the bridging portion includes a second portion having a diameter greater than the first portion, the second portion having a shoulder for interfacing with the at least one supplemental gas port on the outside of the mask assembly. 
     
     
       19. The mask assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the second portion of the bridging portion comprises a connector for connecting a supplemental gas delivery tube. 
     
     
       20. The mask assembly according to  claim 18 , further comprising a bridging portion hole extending from an opening in a first end of the bridging portion to an opening in a second end of the bridging portion. 
     
     
       21. The mask assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the first end of the cannula includes an opening having a diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the bridging portion. 
     
     
       22. The mask assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the connection portion of the bridging portion is inserted into the opening in the first end of the cannula. 
     
     
       23. The mask assembly according to  claim 16 , further comprising a cannula hole in the cannula, the cannula hole extending from an opening in the first end of the cannula to an opening in the second end of the cannula, wherein the cannula hole has a constant diameter from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
       24. The mask assembly according to  claim 16 , further comprising a cannula hole in the cannula, the cannula hole extending from an opening in the first end of the cannula to an opening in the second end of the cannula, wherein the cannula hole has a variable diameter. 
     
     
       25. The mask assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the cannula hole includes a first portion having a constant diameter, and a second portion having a variable diameter, the first portion having a length approximately equal to a length of the connection portion of the bridging portion. 
     
     
       26. The mask assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the second portion of the cannula hole has a diameter greater than the first portion of the cannula hole. 
     
     
       27. The mask assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the cannula is flexible and malleable so that its shape can be changed from a first configuration to stay in a second configuration. 
     
     
       28. The mask assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the bridging portion includes a shoulder that abuts against an inner edge of the at least one supplemental gas port on an inside of the mask assembly. 
     
     
       29. The mask assembly according to  claim 16 , further comprising a fixing member attached to the bridging portion, wherein the fixing member abuts against an outer edge of the at least one supplemental gas port and limits a distance the bridging portion can be inserted into the aperture in the at least one supplemental gas port. 
     
     
       30. The mask assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the cannula is formed from a material selected from silicone, thermoplastic elastomer, foam, gel, polypropylene, polycarbonate, or metal. 
     
     
       31. The mask assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one supplemental gas port includes a first supplemental gas port and a second supplemental gas port, further comprising first and second cannulas each having first and second ends, and a bridge connecting the second ends of the cannulas. 
     
     
       32. The mask assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one supplemental gas port includes a first supplemental gas port and a second supplemental gas port, wherein the cannula comprises first and second cannulas each having first and second ends, wherein the second ends of the cannulas are one unitary piece. 
     
     
       33. The mask assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one supplemental gas port includes a first supplemental gas port and a second supplemental gas port, wherein the cannula comprises first and second cannulas each having first and second ends, wherein the second ends of the cannulas share one opening. 
     
     
       34. A mask assembly, comprising:
 a frame including a primary gas delivery inlet and a pair of supplemental gas ports, the pair of supplemental gas ports each including an aperture in communication with an interior of the mask assembly to provide a flow of supplemental gas; 
 a pair of bridging portions, each bridging portion extending into the aperture of a respective one of the supplemental gas ports, the bridging portions each including a first portion having an outer diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the aperture, and a second portion having a diameter greater than the first portion, the first portion of the bridging portions each including a connection portion extending out of the aperture in the supplemental gas ports and into the interior of the mask assembly, the second portions having a shoulder interfacing with the supplemental gas ports on the outside of the mask assembly; and 
 a pair of cannulas each having a first end and a second end, the first end having an opening and being connected to the connection portion of the bridging portions, and the second end dimensioned and configured to be positioned adjacent to or within a patient's nares and/or mouth in use, to maximize the flow of the supplemental gas through the bridging portion and the cannula to the patient's nares and/or mouth. 
 
     
     
       35. The mask assembly according to  claim 34 , further comprising a cannula hole in each of the cannulas, the cannula hole extending from the opening in the first end of the cannulas to an opening in the second end of the cannulas, wherein the cannula holes have a constant diameter from the first ends of the cannulas to the second ends of the cannulas. 
     
     
       36. The mask assembly according to  claim 34 , further comprising a cannula hole in each of the cannulas, the cannula holes extending from the opening in the first end of the cannulas to an opening in the second end of the cannulas, wherein the cannula holes have a variable diameter. 
     
     
       37. The mask assembly according to  claim 36 , wherein the cannula holes each include a first portion having a constant diameter, and a second portion having a variable diameter, the first portion having a length approximately equal to a length of the connection portion of the bridging portions. 
     
     
       38. The mask assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein the second portion of the bridging portions each comprises a connector for connecting a supplemental gas delivery tube. 
     
     
       39. The mask assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein the cannulas are formed from a material selected from silicone, thermoplastic elastomer, foam, gel, polypropylene, polycarbonate, or metal. 
     
     
       40. The mask assembly according to  claim 34 , further comprising a bridge connecting the second ends of the cannulas. 
     
     
       41. The mask assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein the second ends of the cannulas are one unitary piece. 
     
     
       42. The mask assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein the second ends of the cannulas share one opening. 
     
     
       43. The mask assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein the bridging portions each include a shoulder that abuts against an inner edge of a respective one of the pair of supplemental gas ports on an inside of the mask assembly. 
     
     
       44. The mask assembly according to  claim 34 , further comprising a fixing member attached to each of the bridging portions, wherein the fixing member abuts against an outer edge of a respective one of the pair of supplemental gas ports and limits a distance the bridging portions can be inserted into the aperture in the respective supplemental gas port. 
     
     
       45. The mask assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein the cannulas are flexible and malleable so that their shape can be changed from a first configuration to stay in a second configuration. 
     
     
       46. A mask assembly, comprising:
 a frame including a primary gas delivery inlet in pneumatic communication with a primary source of pressurized gas to deliver the pressurized gas to a patient's airways and at least one supplemental gas port, the at least one supplemental gas port including an aperture in communication with an interior of the mask assembly to provide a flow of supplemental gas from a secondary source pneumatically separate from the primary source to provide a flow of supplemental gas from a secondary source pneumatically separate from the primary source; and 
 a cannula having a first end and a second end, the first end being insertable into the at least one supplemental gas port of a mask assembly, and the second end being positioned within the ask assembly and adjacent to or within a nasal area of a patient in use, wherein supplemental gas is deliverable through the cannula to the patient's nasal area. 
 
     
     
       47. The mask assembly according to  claim 46 , wherein a diameter of the aperture in the at least one supplemental gas port is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the cannula. 
     
     
       48. The mask assembly according to  claim 46 , further comprising a step formed in an aperture of the at least one supplemental gas port, the step limiting a distance the cannula can be inserted into the aperture. 
     
     
       49. The mask assembly according to  claim 46 , further comprising a shoulder formed in the cannula, the shoulder abutting against an outer edge of the supplemental gas port to limit a distance that the cannula can extend into the supplemental gas port. 
     
     
       50. A mask assembly, comprising:
 a frame including a primary gas delivery inlet in pneumatic communication with a primary source of pressurized gas to deliver the pressurized gas to a patient's airways and at least one supplemental gas port, the at least one supplemental gas port including a portion extending into an interior of the mask assembly to provide a flow of supplemental gas from a secondary source pneumatically separate from the primary source; and 
 a cannula having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to communicate with the portion of the at least one supplemental gas port extending into an interior of the mask assembly, and the second end dimensioned and configured to be positioned within the mask assembly and adjacent to or within a nasal area and/or mouth area of a patient in use, wherein supplemental gas is deliverable through the cannula to the patient's nasal area and/or mouth area. 
 
     
     
       51. The mask assembly according to  claim 50 , wherein the second end is dimensioned and configured to be positioned, in use, a distance of within about 50 mm of the patient's nasal area and/or mouth area. 
     
     
       52. The mask assembly according to  claim 51 , wherein the distance is within about 30 mm. 
     
     
       53. The mask assembly according to  claim 52 , wherein the distance is within about 10 mm. 
     
     
       54. The mask assembly according to  claim 53 , wherein the distance is within about 5 mm. 
     
     
       55. The mask assembly according to  claim 50 , wherein the second end is configured and dimensioned so as not to be required to seal and/or be inserted within the nasal area and/or the mouth of the patient. 
     
     
       56. The mask assembly according to  claim 50 , wherein the second end is dimensioned and configured to be inserted within the nare opening of the patient in use.